Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-29

An Important Meeting i'm Baltimore
Last Ni8ht-Letter from Senator Cor.

Ten business men will he appointed to collect the
money. The Washington people have already
spent about 500, and as Baltimore will be bene-
nted commercially just as much as Washington, 1t
Is Thought proper that Baltimore should do her
share toward making the scheme success. The
money that was subscribed In Washington was
spent In working up public interest so as to have
an eject on Congress. The amount contributed by
Baltimore will be utilized in a somewhat similar
hummer, the plan OF expenditure being subject TO
Tile approval OF Baltimore auditing committee.
WHO WERE THERE.
The gentlemen at the meeting from washington
were: Ex-Gov Ordway, Tnos. E. Waggaman, f.
kurts Johnson Geo. c. Gorham, Thcs j. Luttrell,
Dr. q. I. Sewers w. S. Thompson, j. II. Magrudar,
Alex d. Anderson, and Hallet Kilbourn. The Bal
stephen Bonsal Frank Prick, VIM q Powell, Jno
sae sa and ksd'a1 M Geo
U. Fisher, chairman of the Baltimore committee.
Jno E. Hurst presided, with Alex d. Anderson as
SENATOR GORNAN's LETTER.
Jno r Bland, secretary Of the Merchants and
manufacturers Association, said that he had
written TO Senator German to learn the status OF
the permanent exposition and to ascertain his
opinion OF its prospects Senator German wrote
I'm reply take pleasure in handing you here
with a memorandum OF the action OF Congress
upon this subject, from which you will see that
two propositions OF the centennial anniversary in
1889 OF the adoption OF the Constitution OF the
Onlteu StateS and the 4O0th anniversary In 1892
OF the discovery OF America by Christopher Column
bus.
1.-The select committee OF the Senate to whom
Oooa PROPOSITIONS were finally referred, after due
consideration, reported I'm Favor OF Congress taking
acCon 1or the celebration, az the city OF Washing
ton on the Both OF April, 1889. OF the centennial
OF the Inauguration OF the Constitution.
1.-The subject OF the permanent exposition on
the celebration OF the 4OOth anniversary OF the
discovery OF America 10y Christopher Columbus
was still under consideration when Congress- ad-
1ourned on the 4th OF March.
lone Cannot with any degree of certainty pre-
dict the action OF Congress upon any subject; but
as nave tne nOnor OF being member OF the Sc
lect committee TO consider these subjects, and
therefore have had opportunity TO learn the views
OF leaolng members OF both branches OF Congress,
! can say tiiat there Is very earnest desire to
properly celebrate at the city OF Washington both
OF tnese great events, and my beief is that IL the
gentlemen who have charge OF the movement con-
tnue to press it TO the attention OF Congress with
the same vfgor that they have In the past, il is
probable favorable action will be had at the next
session. AT ali events such Is my earnest hope"
ACTION OF CONGRESS.
The action OF Congress upon this subject, as de-
scribed In Senator Germans memorandum was as
follows: On the 31st OF July, 1856 [near the close
OF last SESSION., Senator Hoar. OF Massachusetts,
reported from the library committee the following
resolution, which was adopted by vote or fl yeas
to II nays: "Whereas the approaching centennial
anniversary, in 1889, OF the adoption of the Con-
sttuton OF the United States and that OF the 4OOth
anniversary, In 1892, or the discovery Of America
by Christopher Columbus, are two important his
tOrical events fraught with great patriotic inter-
est, not only to the citizens OF this republic and
OF the governments OF the western hemisphere but
also mark occasions OF tTanScendant Importance
In The history OF the civilized world; therefore
"Res0iUed, That committee OF seven members
OF the Senate, OF whom the President OF the Sem
ate shall be one. be appointed to consider the ex-
pediency OF properly celebrating at the capital Of
the Republic these two 1lluStriOuS anniversaries:
and II said celebration shall be deemed eXpedient
they shall report upon the method, cost and gen.
eral plan thereof at the next session OF Congress.
Said committee are authorized to act In concert
with any similar committee OF the House OF Rep
ressntatives, and to sit during the recess"
This committee, known as the "Select commit
tee on the centennial OF the Constitution and the
discovery OF America, +" held its first meeting on
saturday, the Sth OF January, when the board of
promotion were given full hearing. On the fol-
lowing Monday Senator hOar reported to the Sen
ate the following resolution, which was consid-
cred by unanimous consent and agreed TO:
"ResOtced, That 1t Is eXpedient that order be
taken by Congress for the due celebration at the
city OF Washington on or about the Both OF April,
1889, OF the centennial OF the Inauguration or the
Constitution OF the United States.
"Resoiued further, That the select committee on
the centennial OF the Constitution and the diScOv-
cry OF America be directed to consider and propose
the best mode OF carrying out the foregoing reso-
luton"
The following week further resolution was re-
ported to the Senate, In which an Grafton by the
Chief Justice OF the United States and other cere-
monies were recommended for the centennial OF
1883. Tl1S resolution was also considered Dy
unanimous consent, and agreed TO.
On the 18th OF January the committee reported
concurrent resolution providing that "a loint
committee OF five members OF the Senate and
eight Of the House OF Representatives be appointed
to take into consideration the eXpediency OF hold
ing, in 1892, in commeinoration OF the discovery
OF America, an International exhibition OF the in
dustrieS and products OF all nations, and If such
an exhibition shall be deemed eXpedient, to con-
slider the time, place, circumstances and general
plan thereof, and to report by bill or otherwise"
This resolution was also considered by unanimous
consent and agreed TO.
On January ~ the aforementioned resolution was
considered by the library committee of the House.
who, after full hearing, unanimously recon-
mended its adoption. The report, after reciting
Italy, and the spanlsh-American republics, Tor a
grand celebration IN 1892 in honor OF Columbus
ana his discovery OF the new world, concludes as
follows:
'In our opinion pride as well as self-interest in
American history and institutions demand that
the United States-the elder sister of the sixteen
American republics-take the Initiative in this
grand and patriotic work."
MINISTER soTELDo's OPINION
Minister SOteldO of Venezuela, wrote as follows:
IT have been explicit, from the beginning OF this
transcendental idea, In expressing my admiration
and faith in its final success, and the beneft to be
vast hemisphere. The contemplated permanent
exposition Of all the natural and Industrial pro-
ducts OF our sections believe will naturally result
in the organization OF a vast continental museum
where ready and accurate exhibits will at once
be found, giving most practical ideas OF the re-
sources and development or each country in par
tcular and or all In general. believe the advan-
tages Of this general display OF the treasures OF
nature and art in our whole America deserves the
full support and earnest, unanimous concurrence
OF every government and commonwealth within
its vast territorial extension. l have given and
am ready to give my full support to the contem-
plated exposition and to its final success OF which
entertain no doubt whatever
81 understand that the representatives Of all the
South American republics have referred and rec
commended this subject to their respective govern
mentS. II proper commissioners were sent to all
parts Of the continent believe no section could
be found to refuse their concurrence and support
to the best OF their abilities Nothing could better
answer the purpose Of celebrating the discovery OF
the new world By Columbus In 1892 than this ex-
position In 1892 at the time Of the 4OOrh anniver-
sary OF the happy event."
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
The popularity OF the project Is shown by 400
letters OF acceptance as members ex-ondcio OF the
board Of promotion received from governors
mayors, presidents and secretaries OF boards OF
trade, and of1cerS OF State agricultural societies
and oranges representing In all As States and Ter.
utor1ea They are not only letters OF acceptance
but an emphatic Enforcement OF the project-par.
iculariy that part relating to more intimate com.
mercial relations between the several sister ma
lions Of the tlnoe Americas
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
Before the Baltimore committee decided upon the
appointment OF committee OF ten to raise 5000
T. NJ Schryver described how the corn and hour
exchange, the board OF trade, and the Merchants
and ManufacturerS' Association had each cOndi-
uOnally promised subscription OF $780, and how
timore and Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads to
subscribe. The PENNSYLVANIA declined TO act until